c230 reliability
c230 reliability
11-22-2003, 10:12 AM
#2
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Not really...just keep up with the maint and enjoy the car. The C230 is the most dependable of all MB. I have a 99 C230K with 70000 and some change and it runs great.
If your a DIY guy these two sites will help a lot
www.startekinfo.com
www.alldatadiy.com
If your a DIY guy these two sites will help a lot
www.startekinfo.com
www.alldatadiy.com
11-22-2003, 09:29 PM
#3
By 1999 the 722.6 tranny was sorted out pretty well. There are some Air Mass Meter issues that effect many models of MB, but not anything to get too worried about.
Many techs I know consider the W202 series 1996 and on to be the most reliable MB ever built, with the M111 equipped car especially so. The engine is very well made, has no head gasket issues, and after 1995 the wiring harness issues that plagued all 1993-1993 MB's were also sorted out.
Also, the post 1996 cars have the variable pressure AC system, which is also proving to be very reliable and robust.
Be careful of overfilling the engine oil, as the main crank seals can easily be wrecked by doing so. Make sure your PPI includes a close inspection under the car.
Also, the W202's that live where roads are bad can go through lower front ball joints.
There is mixed feelings on the Eaton M62 supercharger mounted on the M111 Kompressor cars. Eaton supes have long been built as sealed non-rebuilable units with a typical service life of 100-125K miles. While this is suitable to GM products, most MB's are still valuable and excellent cars at that mileage. However, the verdict is still out on this, and I understand M62 pricing has come down lots since it is being used in many applications.
My 1998 C230 is the best car ever to reside in our garage, and I'm going to drive 'er till she drops.
Many techs I know consider the W202 series 1996 and on to be the most reliable MB ever built, with the M111 equipped car especially so. The engine is very well made, has no head gasket issues, and after 1995 the wiring harness issues that plagued all 1993-1993 MB's were also sorted out.
Also, the post 1996 cars have the variable pressure AC system, which is also proving to be very reliable and robust.
Be careful of overfilling the engine oil, as the main crank seals can easily be wrecked by doing so. Make sure your PPI includes a close inspection under the car.
Also, the W202's that live where roads are bad can go through lower front ball joints.
There is mixed feelings on the Eaton M62 supercharger mounted on the M111 Kompressor cars. Eaton supes have long been built as sealed non-rebuilable units with a typical service life of 100-125K miles. While this is suitable to GM products, most MB's are still valuable and excellent cars at that mileage. However, the verdict is still out on this, and I understand M62 pricing has come down lots since it is being used in many applications.
My 1998 C230 is the best car ever to reside in our garage, and I'm going to drive 'er till she drops.
11-30-2003, 07:48 AM
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Originally posted by blackmercedes
There is mixed feelings on the Eaton M62 supercharger mounted on the M111 Kompressor cars. Eaton supes have long been built as sealed non-rebuilable units with a typical service life of 100-125K miles. While [/B]
There is mixed feelings on the Eaton M62 supercharger mounted on the M111 Kompressor cars. Eaton supes have long been built as sealed non-rebuilable units with a typical service life of 100-125K miles. While [/B]
The thing is that i have one of these superchargers that i want to install it on my 1.8l M111. The guy on canadiansuperchargers.com where i bought my SC told me that this is a M45. I need to know which it is so that i can do the math correctly. (0.75 l / rev or 1.0 l / rev)
11-30-2003, 09:59 AM
#6
Originally posted by cwickstr
Are you sure that the MB partno. A111 090 03 80 is a M62?
Are you sure that the MB partno. A111 090 03 80 is a M62?
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12-02-2003, 06:15 PM
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1997 C230
c230 reliability
Owning and having owned a "number" of BMW's (both cars and motorcycles) for comparison, my '97 C230 (92K miles) has been an enjoyable experience. There are "design" points that can only be described as elegant (both to look at and "service"), and reliability has been equal to anything else I have owned. I now think of the maintenance costs as an investment with a high return - repair costs have been low.
I'm considering mine a "keeper" and hope your experience is as positive as mine.
Don
in my garage you'll find:
'97 C230
'93 BMW K1100LTA
'87 BMW 325is
'79 BMW 320i
I'm considering mine a "keeper" and hope your experience is as positive as mine.
Don
in my garage you'll find:
'97 C230
'93 BMW K1100LTA
'87 BMW 325is
'79 BMW 320i
12-02-2003, 07:03 PM
#10
Why I like my C230 so much: (not in order)
1. Economy. I drive quite a bit, and only a true "economy" car can beat the C230 aspro for mileage. Terrific.
2. Ease of repair and maintenance. I do most of own work, and really appreciate the roomy engine bay, easy to access filters, and simple to maintain braking system.
3. Simplicity for a "luxury" type of car. My C230 is a Classic trim and has no traction control, manual seats, no COMAND, no distronic-cruise or other way-out-there gadgets. I hope that MB sees fit to offer simpler products in our markets.
4. Inexpensive parts. We had a C36, and the AMG specific parts prices would make you faint. The "normal" C-Class parts are no more than a Honda, and in many cases, less. Four plugs, four plug wires, etc.
5. Comfortable for me and my family. We don't need a big car, and the compact C-Class size fits just right. Easy to park, nice to drive, and elegant in it's design.
6. It LOOKS like a Mercedes. When I drop my daughter off at play-school, the parentsgive an extra glance at my C230, and ignore a W203 C-Class that usually parks a few spaces down. They don't seem to know it's a Benz. That will change over time, perhaps.
7. Even the lowliest C-Class is a superb driving car. Solid chassis, unflappable high-speed steering and seats that are good for the whole day.
8. Interior materials. Jean Lindamood compared the W202 interior to the rest of the line back in 1999. She thought only the W140 materials better, an only by a teeny margin. As a former W210 owner, I can say that I agree. The dash plastic is thick and the console materials are heavy and rock solid. The glove-box door is not a flimsy single layer bit, but a very heavy piece. They should have given us the old style heavy Tex, and things would be perfect.
9. Great instruments. I like the W203, but can't stand the cluster. The speedo needle is a teeny section that I just can't find at a glance, and the temp gauge is "clicks" away in the menus. Is there a tach? Good thing my eyes are still good. The W202 has a perfect cluster (save for the missing oil pressure gauge) with big clear dials. I like the backlit gauges better than the W201 and W124 clusters as they seem to relect less on the windscreen.
At close to 100K miles (153,000km's) my C230 is tight and strong. The engine has yet to use a drop of oil, and with only a few warranty concerns (fewer than ANY other new car we've bought, including HOnda and Acura products) I have confidence that the car is going to last years and years to come.
1. Economy. I drive quite a bit, and only a true "economy" car can beat the C230 aspro for mileage. Terrific.
2. Ease of repair and maintenance. I do most of own work, and really appreciate the roomy engine bay, easy to access filters, and simple to maintain braking system.
3. Simplicity for a "luxury" type of car. My C230 is a Classic trim and has no traction control, manual seats, no COMAND, no distronic-cruise or other way-out-there gadgets. I hope that MB sees fit to offer simpler products in our markets.
4. Inexpensive parts. We had a C36, and the AMG specific parts prices would make you faint. The "normal" C-Class parts are no more than a Honda, and in many cases, less. Four plugs, four plug wires, etc.
5. Comfortable for me and my family. We don't need a big car, and the compact C-Class size fits just right. Easy to park, nice to drive, and elegant in it's design.
6. It LOOKS like a Mercedes. When I drop my daughter off at play-school, the parentsgive an extra glance at my C230, and ignore a W203 C-Class that usually parks a few spaces down. They don't seem to know it's a Benz. That will change over time, perhaps.
7. Even the lowliest C-Class is a superb driving car. Solid chassis, unflappable high-speed steering and seats that are good for the whole day.
8. Interior materials. Jean Lindamood compared the W202 interior to the rest of the line back in 1999. She thought only the W140 materials better, an only by a teeny margin. As a former W210 owner, I can say that I agree. The dash plastic is thick and the console materials are heavy and rock solid. The glove-box door is not a flimsy single layer bit, but a very heavy piece. They should have given us the old style heavy Tex, and things would be perfect.
9. Great instruments. I like the W203, but can't stand the cluster. The speedo needle is a teeny section that I just can't find at a glance, and the temp gauge is "clicks" away in the menus. Is there a tach? Good thing my eyes are still good. The W202 has a perfect cluster (save for the missing oil pressure gauge) with big clear dials. I like the backlit gauges better than the W201 and W124 clusters as they seem to relect less on the windscreen.
At close to 100K miles (153,000km's) my C230 is tight and strong. The engine has yet to use a drop of oil, and with only a few warranty concerns (fewer than ANY other new car we've bought, including HOnda and Acura products) I have confidence that the car is going to last years and years to come.
